If you have seen some brightly coloured birds in the sky over Chester recently you may have wondered what they are. Well they will be the brightly coloured corporate ducks winging their way to sponsors to be decorated for the Annual Countess Charity Duck Race on September 22nd 2018!

The Countess Charity Duck Race now in its 6th year will take pace down at The Groves by the River Dee on Saturday 22nd Sept 2018, supported once again by Hickory’s Smokehouse Chester and Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and North Wales. The delightfully decorated corporate ducks will be on display from 12noon until 2pm and lots of activities available for the children. The Corporate Ducks will take to the water first at 3pm followed closely by the Baby Ducks form the suspension bridge.

“Corporate Duck this year have been flying out fast says” Hanna Clarke Corporate and Events Fundraising Manager at The Countess Charity. “Companies adopting a duck get the choice of colour from blue, green, pink, red, green, yellow and black but with black already sold out and only a limited number of blue ducks left companies need to act fast t get hold of their duck”.

Corporate Ducks are £220 to adopt and taking part in the duck race has lots of corporate social responsibility benefits for the company. There are lots of coveted prizes to be won – Facebook Favourite, Best Dressed, Celebrity Lookalike, and Fastest Duck and there is an additional category for the ducks that have been decorated by a primary school or community children’s group year. So if you aren’t feeling very artistic we have contacts with several local schools and children’s groups who would be happy to decorate your duck for you

Sykes Holiday Cottages have adopted a duck once again this year which Kelsall Primary School will be decorating for them. Graham Donoghue, chief executive at Sykes Holiday Cottages said:

“The Chester Duck Race is always a joy to be involved in. It’s a fantastic day out for the whole family so I’d encourage everyone to head down to the event and support The Countess Charity! It is a cause that’s very close to the hearts of our staff and we’re very proud to be a part of the race this year”.

Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers have asked Mickle Trafford Primary School to take charge of their duck decorating. Natalie Tomlinson, PR and marketing manager at Ellis & Co said : “This is the first time we’ve been involved with the Chester Duck Race, I must admit we are all rather excited for the event. Our duck is away on his holidays at Mickle Trafford Primary School ready for his makeover after the summer holidays. We are very pleased to be supporting such a fantastic local event, and to help raise much needed funds for such a worthy cause.”

Baby Ducks are available for people to buy priced at £2 each and be in with the chance to win 1 of 3 fantastic cash prizes £250, £150 and £100 thanks to Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and North Wales, with the first 10 baby ducks over the line also receiving a Venture Photography voucher.

Baby Ducks can be purchase online at www.eventbrite.co.uk by searching Chester Duck Race 2018, from the fundraising office at the Countess of Chester Hospital or on the day of the race down at the Groves.

For more details on the Duck Race and how to get involved please contact Hanna Clarke on 01244 366 24 | hannaclarke@nhs.net